The National tribune., 1887-05-19
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught by n Study or the Inter
national Sunday school Lesson Appointed 70
HAY %. Ex., IL: 1881.

Inc lBtD plague suffered Dy the EEypllauS,
TO wit, the destruction by the Angel of Death OF
all their first born, was so terrible that Pharaoh
relented and gave the Israelites permission to
so ont from Egypt.
Moses was the leader Of the Exodus. His
pedigree is as follows: Adam, Methuselah,
Noah, Shem, Abraham. Isaac, Joseph, Amram.
The Egyptians descended from Ham. the son OF
Noah, and the Israelites sprung from Shem,
Hams brother. Ii is singular 10 see the con-
ilict between the descendants of two brothers.
Abraham lived in Ur of Chaldea. He went
20 Canaan. Isaac, Jacob and Joseph were born.
Joseph was sold and taken 10 Egypt, and at
length all the lsraelites went thither. The
names Of the 20 who left Canaan for Egypt are
given in Gen, as S-27. Then followed JOS
eph's death, the slavery Of the Israelites the
birth Of Moses and his Call 20 lead the Exodus.
The Exodus occurred 430 years from the Call
Of Abraham 20 90 from Haran TO Canaan. The
Call came 10 AbrahPm Gen. I2: H. in the year
20o3 A. NJ. Add i30 (Ex., 10: IL; Gal, 3: l7)
and we have 25l3 A. NJ, the date of the Exodus.
The Exodus was the stsrtpoint Of q new dis
PeRsation. Ii was the dividing line between
the Patriarchal and the Mosaic
The lsraeltes at the time of the Exodus were
shout 100000 in number Ex., l2: 81; IS: 26
M, / 4: 10; IL: p, show there were over 100000
men, evidently adults Add 100000 women.
Estimate three children to each couple, and we
have 100000 The aggregate is 100000.
Five abreast these would make q procession
300 miles long. They would cover an area OF
about three square miles
They set out from Rameses. (12: 37.) This
was one of the treasure cities built by the Israel
ties. l:lL) There must have been great
generalship on the part of Moses 10 organize the
people of an entire region so that they could
concentrate az given point at a designated
time ready to march.
Their irst station out was Succoth. (12: 81.
This was not probably the name Of a settled
place. The word means booths tents, etc
1t WAS given 10 the spot because the Israel
ties spent the night there, sleeping in booths
made from tamarisk and palm branches,
or in tents. Succoth was the end OF the first
days journey-place of rest for the first night
out-about 10 miles from Rameses. There
Moses rehearsed TO the people the account ol
the Passover night.
Now we reach Ethan. This was at the head
OF the Gulf of Suez, the beginning of the
wllderness-end Of the second days journey,
| place Of rest for the second night-l5 miles
from SGccolh. IL was at Ethan the cloud OF
shadow by day and light by night first ap-
pearcd. This cloud continued 10 guide them un-
| iii they reached the Jordan and the Ark
was substituted. The fourth station was Pi.
4 hahiroth. This was the end of the third days
! ioumey-about - miles from Ethan.
Let US see the condition in which the Israel.
ties were al Pi-hahiroth. On their right was Mt
Atlaka, which could not be scaled. At their lefl
was the Gulf Of Suez. They werein a triangle
/ The Egyptians, hayingTepentedl letting the lsra
elites 20, were in hot pursuit. Just at the nick
of time, while the Hebrews were encamping
4 hemmed in at the right hand and the left, th,
/ forces of Pharaoh were heard in the rear. IA
| Z, 81 Josephus states there were 100000 foot
men, 10000 horsemen and GOO chariots. Pha
raoh's regret At the departure of the lsraelite
was largely due 10 the loss Of the labor Of s.
many slaves. Even by the end Of two or thre,
] days such bondmen would be seriously missed
/ Ne know what domestic hubbnb takes place
at the absence for only brief time Of ser
want girl or n man -oi-all-work.
Notice the effect Of the situation on th,
minds Of the Israelites. They were afraid
they cried unto the Lord; they tauntingl!
| asked Moses If be had led them out there be
cause Egypt offered them no graves; the,
wished they had remained in Egypt to die.
1 Consider the effect Of the situation on Moses
4 He was full of courage. Instead Of beinj
alarmed, lac quetod the fear of the Israelite
| by assuring them God would fight in their in
terest. Then he prayed for help in the emer
gency.
Review the effect on God. He heard th
prayer Of Moses and came 10 the relief. III
declined 20 give Pharaoh any advantage
although he thus made the Egyptian Kin
more furious. This is called the hardening q
Ehara0l's heart, and we can see in what sens
God did it, lie instructed Moses what 10 do.
1t is thought the sea between Pi-hahirOt
aud BaalZephOn was about 10 miles wide an
about "a feet deep.
Behold the rescue. God placed the clou
between the Egyptians and the Israelte
darkness 10 one and light 10 the other. The
Moses stretched out his rod over the Gul
The waters opened and piled up like congeale
walls. The Israelites walked down an
through, as in dry highway. IA :29; 10: 5
How Of the Egypiansl They were trouble,
Oh came their chariot wheels when in Ill
midst Of the watery walls. They We're eager
= return. Down came the huge piles of water
inclOsing them aS between two fearful jaw
Not one escaped, not even Pharaoh. Whc
Moses with the Israelites had cotton safely O
shore at Baal-Zephon he stretched out his 70,
thus causing the elevated waters to tumb
down and crush 10 death the forces Of Egyp
We see that on the third night out the Israe
ties did not rest, but were engaged in escay
from the Egyptians.
Read Ps, IL: 20; 7S 2-l4; I06 :7-II.
OF the 100000 we know by name only Il
leb, Bezaleel, Aholiab Hur, Nadab. Abih
/, Eliazar, Ithamar-yiz., II. OF these only oil
was a woman.
/ Suggestions:
, ]. Leaders must he brave men. Moses hs
| his first trial with the IsTaelites when at L
hahiroth. He proved calm, self possessed, n
daunbed. He had more 10 lose than the re,
IL captured he would have been executed, whi
the people would at most have been return,
10 slavery. How many stand ready at such
hour as that through which the Israelites pass
j, 20 cry out, Just as we said We knew
= would be so. Yes, we told you so before ,
4 started" Think of 100000 Of indignaI
maddened people denouncing youl That "
a the position of Moses.
- Men, women and children were eomplainiu
and indeed frantic,
. 2. IL is vain TO try to pursue, persecute, /
= jure Gods people. "The Lord fghteth (
: them" He can put a cloud of darkness |
tween them aud their enemies. Ho commau
the thunder and hurls the lightning. 4
very waves of the sea wait his beckon. Nj
cannot match God
3. Sinners will take advantage of any dil
IN culties in which they find Christians. Phara
~ said, wheH he learned how the Israclites we
A. situated at Pi-hahiroth, They are entangl
81 in the land; the wilderness hath shut them il
10 Come on" lac shouts, "NOw is our ODD,
= tuuity." The Pharisees tried TO entan.
~ Christ in his talk, on purpose 10 iniure hi
M We are always in danger when entangled.
Je Paul bade the Galatians not 10 become Q
- tangled again with the yoke of bondage. Is,
a Read Pet, 2 : 20.D St. Paul was right VIII
m be said, No man that warreth entangleth hi
4. self with the affairs of this life"
n 4. DO not fear. Just trust God. Moses "
"a not alarmed. He remembered the bnrni
a bush and the 10 plaques. lie believed q
,e would continue help. Mans extremity
is God Is opportunity"